The Indianapolis journal., 1887-09-26
Rev. George @. Heokman's Discourse.


the old Third Church. spent yesterday in the
city, in the interest OF the ministerial relief
fund of the Presbyterian Church. for which it
is proposed to raise endowment of one mill
ion dollars as a part OF the memorial observance
of the Centennial General Assembly. Yester-
day morning ne occupied the pulpit of Taberna-
Gle Church. the successor to his old charge. and
addressed a large congregation with great ac-
ceptsbility. At the conclusion of the services
the Doctor held reception. many of his old
church members taking advantage OF the oppor-
by hand shake and cheerful word. DR.. Heck
man is corresponding secretary of the centen-
nial committee. and most admirably is he
fitted for the work he has in hand.
LET us make it understood" he said, "that we
are not preparing TO celebrate the centennial of
our church, for we are more than one hundred
years too late for that But are are arran ging
for the centennial anniversary of General
Assembly. Now two questions arise. /. What
will Presbvterians make out OF this centenniaR
2 What can Presbvterians make out of this
centennial The first question can be answered
at the end of the year. The second must
try to answer now. From the initiation of this
enterprise the conviction has deepened that this
counsel and this work are not of man, but of
God; that it may be made to sxalt the praise of
God and further catholic Christianity in the
land, and quicken the vitality and intensity the
efficiency of our denomination as - church of
our Lord Jesus Christ To this end we need
the hearty operation of all the elements of
= r4T largest expectations will be realized
1.-The past two centuries, almost covering the
history of the American Presby yterian Church.
have been centuries of honor. During this year
we would present them as SUCH not for self
gloriication, but because works have
gloriied our Father which is in heaven. We
would make this centennial year in part
to enlighten the children as to the faith and
fidelity of their fathers We would the
year TO raise inheritance of beneficence to
posterity which shall stimulate them to larger
nherRltty. that
centennial year as TO quicken the church of the
new century to emulate and surpass the Chris
tianity of their fathers for the past two hundred
years.
at is no purpose of ours to attempt to prove,
even to assert. that the Presbyterian Church
has been perfect In her LOYALTY to her King and
IN fidelity to her trust We neither claim such
completeness OF duty for ourselves, nor yield it
before ourselves to any other denomination.
What we claim and propose to be proclaimed
during this year of centennial preparation is,
that American Presbyterianism Is essentially
pure Christianity, the Christianity of the Re-
formation; and especially American Presby.
terianism has always been true, consistent and
faithful in her attitude and action the right
side OF every important social or political, moral
or religious question and event the history OF
our country for two hundred years-that our
church has been trne to the country and the
age, true to the reformation and apost Ollie Chris
tianity, a fair representative Of Jesus Christ
and faithful to the kingdom of God.
Our General Assembly earnestly recomrn ends
that ministry and laity mark this centennial
bearing on the history of our church. This
series may be easily outlined
II A study of successive deiverances of our
church courts shows that our doctrine and polity
are squarely based upon the inspired word of
God, and that the American Presbyterian
Church may claim a conspicuous place in this
respect among the reformed churches.
III The constituency OF the American Pres
byterian Church establishes its place and char
acter In the reformed church. From its dis
tinct organization it began absorbing and
aifliating in organic union the PresDyLerianism
and Calvlnism of the various Europe can nation
alities and churches represented in the COLOMBIA
ton OF this country, that American Presby-
teranism Is made up of contribul lions from all
the churches OF the Reformation.
I'LL The attitude of our Presbyterian Church
to all great social and religious and ques-
tions in the history of country. Here a
wide and magnificent field opens. not for
address, bnt many.
You may spring any national epoch crisis or
question of church for the past two
centuries, and You will find the attitude of the
Presbyterian Church right, faithful and true to
all And In the course OF these events and the
settlement Of these questions our church was